Leaves of Grass Part 66

Life and Death

The two old, simple problems ever intertwined, Close home, elusive, present, baffled, grappled.

By each successive age insoluble, pa.s.s'd on, To ours to-day-and we pa.s.s on the same.

The Voice of the Rain

And who art thou? said I to the soft-falling shower, Which, strange to tell, gave me an answer, as here translated: I am the Poem of Earth, said the voice of the rain, Eternal I rise impalpable out of the land and the bottomless sea, Upward to heaven, whence, vaguely form'd, altogether changed, and yet the same, I descend to lave the drouths, atomies, dust-layers of the globe, And all that in them without me were seeds only, latent, unborn; And forever, by day and night, I give back life to my own origin, and make pure and beautify it; (For song, issuing from its birth-place, after fulfilment, wandering, Reck'd or unreck'd, duly with love returns.)

Soon Shall the Winter's Foil Be Here

Soon shall the winter's foil be here; Soon shall these icy ligatures unbind and melt-A little while, And air, soil, wave, suffused shall be in softness, bloom and growth-a thousand forms shall rise From these dead clods and chills as from low burial graves.

Thine eyes, ears-all thy best attributes-all that takes cognizance of natural beauty, Shall wake and fill. Thou shalt perceive the simple shows, the delicate miracles of earth, Dandelions, clover, the emerald gra.s.s, the early scents and flowers, The arbutus under foot, the willow's yellow-green, the blossoming plum and cherry; With these the robin, lark and thrush, singing their songs-the flitting bluebird; For such the scenes the annual play brings on.

While Not the Past Forgetting

While not the past forgetting, To-day, at least, contention sunk entire-peace, brotherhood uprisen; For sign reciprocal our Northern, Southern hands, Lay on the graves of all dead soldiers, North or South, (Nor for the past alone-for meanings to the future,) Wreaths of roses and branches of palm.

The Dying Veteran

Amid these days of order, ease, prosperity, Amid the current songs of beauty, peace, decorum, I cast a reminiscence-(likely 'twill offend you, I heard it in my boyhood;)-More than a generation since, A queer old savage man, a fighter under Was.h.i.+ngton himself, (Large, brave, cleanly, hot-blooded, no talker, rather spiritualistic, Had fought in the ranks-fought well-had been all through the Revolutionary war,) Lay dying-sons, daughters, church-deacons, lovingly tending him, Sharping their sense, their ears, towards his murmuring, half-caught words: "Let me return again to my war-days, To the sights and scenes-to forming the line of battle, To the scouts ahead reconnoitering, To the cannons, the grim artillery, To the galloping aides, carrying orders, To the wounded, the fallen, the heat, the suspense, The perfume strong, the smoke, the deafening noise; Away with your life of peace!-your joys of peace!

Give me my old wild battle-life again!"

Stronger Lessons

Have you learn'd lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with you, and stood aside for you?

Have you not learn'd great lessons from those who reject you, and brace themselves against you? or who treat you with contempt, or dispute the pa.s.sage with you?

A Prairie Sunset

Shot gold, maroon and violet, dazzling silver, emerald, fawn, The earth's whole amplitude and Nature's multiform power consign'd for once to colors; The light, the general air possess'd by them-colors till now unknown, No limit, confine-not the Western sky alone-the high meridian- North, South, all, Pure luminous color fighting the silent shadows to the last.

Twenty Years

Down on the ancient wharf, the sand, I sit, with a new-comer chatting: He s.h.i.+pp'd as green-hand boy, and sail'd away, (took some sudden, vehement notion;) Since, twenty years and more have circled round and round, While he the globe was circling round and round, -and now returns: How changed the place-all the old land-marks gone-the parents dead; (Yes, he comes back to lay in port for good-to settle-has a well-fill'd purse-no spot will do but this;) The little boat that scull'd him from the sloop, now held in leash I see, I hear the slapping waves, the restless keel, the rocking in the sand, I see the sailor kit, the canvas bag, the great box bound with bra.s.s, I scan the face all berry-brown and bearded-the stout-strong frame, Dress'd in its russet suit of good Scotch cloth: (Then what the told-out story of those twenty years? What of the future?)

Orange Buds by Mail from Florida

A lesser proof than old Voltaire's, yet greater, Proof of this present time, and thee, thy broad expanse, America, To my plain Northern hut, in outside clouds and snow, Brought safely for a thousand miles o'er land and tide, Some three days since on their own soil live-sprouting, Now here their sweetness through my room unfolding, A bunch of orange buds by mall from Florida.

Twilight

The soft voluptuous opiate shades, The sun just gone, the eager light dispell'd-(I too will soon be gone, dispell'd,) A haze-nirwana-rest and night-oblivion.

You Lingering Spa.r.s.e Leaves of Me

You lingering spa.r.s.e leaves of me on winter-nearing boughs, And I some well-shorn tree of field or orchard-row; You tokens diminute and lorn-(not now the flush of May, or July clover-bloom-no grain of August now;) You pallid banner-staves-you pennants valueless-you overstay'd of time, Yet my soul-dearest leaves confirming all the rest, The faithfulest-hardiest-last.

Not Meagre, Latent Boughs Alone

Not meagre, latent boughs alone, O songs! (scaly and bare, like eagles' talons,) But haply for some sunny day (who knows?) some future spring, some summer-bursting forth, To verdant leaves, or sheltering shade-to nouris.h.i.+ng fruit, Apples and grapes-the stalwart limbs of trees emerging-the fresh, free, open air, And love and faith, like scented roses blooming.

The Dead Emperor

To-day, with bending head and eyes, thou, too, Columbia, Less for the mighty crown laid low in sorrow-less for the Emperor, Thy true condolence breathest, sendest out o'er many a salt sea mile, Mourning a good old man-a faithful shepherd, patriot.